World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (+550) enters as the betting favorite: at FanDuel Sportsbook, followed by Rory McIlroy (+1000) and Jon Rahm (+1600). Despite not winning since the start of his season, Scheffler has posted four runner-up finishes and no result worse than T14 since the majors began.
Rory McIlroy returns to a course where he has dominated: , with finishes of T2, T4, and a win in his last three trips to The Renaissance Club. He won this event in 2023.
Defending champion Chris Gotterup (+2600) has won three times on the PGA Tour this season: , including last week at the John Deere Classic, where he shot a final-round 62 to seal the victory without his A-game.
Jon Rahm (+1300 at DraftKings) is back at the Scottish Open for the first time since 2022: , having made peace with the DP World Tour. He has two LIV Golf wins this season and five runner-up finishes.
Matt Fitzpatrick (+1800 / +2200) is peaking at the right time: with top-five finishes in two of his last three starts, including a playoff loss at this event in 2021.
Why this matters: The Scottish Open is the final preparation event before The Open Championship. Players use this week to fine-tune their links game, and strong performances here often carry over to the following week's major.
Designed by Tom Doak, The Renaissance Club plays as a par-70, stretching 7,282 yards. While it offers links-style golf with several holes along the water, it is not the full-blown test players will face at Royal Birkdale next week. This makes it an ideal stepping stone — challenging enough to reward quality ball-striking but forgiving enough to allow players to build confidence.
One of the biggest storylines this week is the participation of LIV Golf players. Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton (+3100), and David Puig are all in the field, using the DP World Tour pathway to compete. Rahm addressed his return directly, saying: *"Just happy that the DP World Tour let me have the opportunity… It's one of my favorite weeks, so it's really fun to be here again."*
Will Gray (PGATOUR.COM):
Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Fitzpatrick, Top 20 parlay (+410) — "The Fitzpatrick brothers have had an incredible spring."
Max Homa, Top 10 at ISCO Championship (+245)
Chris Breece (Golfbet):
Tom Kim, Top 20 (+285) — He's 3-for-3 in this market at this course.
Nicolai Højgaard, Top 20 with ties (+174) — Has a pair of top-10s at The Renaissance Club.
SportsLine Projection Model:
The model, which has correctly predicted 17 majors (including five straight Masters), simulated the tournament 10,000 times. It projects that Jon Rahm (+1500) may struggle to crack the top 10, while U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark (+2700) is a target for a big payday. The model also identified a massive longshot around +4000 to surge up the leaderboard.
CBS Sports Picks:
Matt Fitzpatrick (22-1): as the winner pick — peaking at the right time with near-spotless history at The Renaissance Club.
Chris Gotterup (26-1): as a contender — the defending champion has shown a new layer to his game.
Matt Wallace (125-1): as a sleeper — arriving fresh off a runner-up at the Italian Open with elite iron play.
As of Round 1, the tournament is in progress with a logjam at the top. Six players are tied at -3, including M. Armitage, S. Jamieson, M. Kim, A. Hidalgo, B. Wiesberger, and K. Kitayama. Notable names near the top include Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott, and Tom Kim at -2.
When and where is the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open being played?
The tournament runs from July 9–12, 2026, at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland.
Who is the defending champion?
Chris Gotterup is the defending champion, having won the 2025 edition.
What is the purse for the 2026 Scottish Open?
The total purse is $9,000,000.
Which LIV Golf players are in the field?
Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, and David Puig are among the LIV Golf players competing this week.
How can I watch the Genesis Scottish Open?
Coverage is available on PGA Tour LIVE, CBS Sports, and various international broadcast partners. Check local listings for exact times.
Is this a co-sanctioned event?
Yes, the Genesis Scottish Open is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
For Fantasy Players:: Matt Fitzpatrick offers excellent value at 22-1 given his recent form and course history. Chris Gotterup is undervalued at 26-1 as a three-time winner this season.
For Bettors:: Consider the Fitzpatrick brothers Top 20 parlay (+410) and Tom Kim Top 20 (+285) as strong value plays. The SportsLine model suggests Wyndham Clark (+2700) could be worth a look.
For Golf Fans:: This week is critical for understanding who will contend at The Open. Watch for players who perform well on the links-style layout — especially the Irish and Scottish players who grew up on this type of turf.
How to Prepare:: If you're playing fantasy golf, note that the new PGA TOUR Fantasy Game allows in-tournament rostering features in 2026. Each golfer can be used only three times per segment, so plan your lineup strategically.
Do you think Scottie Scheffler will finally break through for his first win since the start of the season, or will Rory McIlroy reclaim his Scottish Open crown? Can Jon Rahm silence the doubters after his early U.S. Open exit? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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*What do you think — will Gotterup go back-to-back, or will a new champion emerge? Let us know!*
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